The Death of Dignity
American society is drenched in debauchery, devoid of decency, and deprived of dignity. Can American dignity be restored?
Every political party, every leader, aspires to not only leave a legacy but also manifest the ideals of American society to the best of his or her ability. Democrats seek to create some form of a utopia where all necessities are provided — food, shelter, healthcare — with a hope that the hopeless will find new life, new inspiration, living in a state where survivalism no longer clouds the mind. Republicans desire a return to a previous Golden Age in America, when freedom and enterprise reigned, families stayed together, and the ideals of liberty, hard work and human dignity were at the forefront of American consciousness.
Unfortunately, any practical effort to achieve either one of these ideals has proven to be an ignominious failure. The left’s obsession with anti-Trump propaganda and identity politics along with the right’s obsession with winning for the sake of winning have left the United States citizenry divided, confused, debauched, and silently begging for a higher power to save it from the insanity that American politics and society have become.
Reality television, viral gossip blogs, political posturing, and vitriolic political pundits tell the story that the way to success is to be as vile, ignorant, and carnal as possible. Sleep one’s way to the top like Love and Hip-Hop and The Bachelor; stay relevant in the media (especially social media) with petty clap backs to please gossip blogs like The Shaderoom or TMZ; engage in heated, and often exaggerated, debates to drive ratings for CNN and MSNBC.
Following the example of 21st century role models, there are more Instagram models; pseudo-journalists with viral fake news blogs; thousands of mild to extremist podcasts; and an overall culture that propagates drunkenness, hookup culture, a breakdown of moral codes, and individual as well as institutional corruption. Dangerous behavior is romanticized, and any sense of morality is explained away by labeling correction as “hating” or jealously — a need to “get your life”. One must pose the question: what has America become?
Liberal pockets of society blame the abysmal state of American consciousness on the rise of Donald Trump. However, it is more accurate to realize that the election of Donald Trump is a byproduct of this preexisting culture of toxicity and destruction along with its corresponding mindset. Donald Trump, the notable reality tv star, is a prime example of the gross, self-centered and crude ambition that causes most Americans to salivate. The new reality show, The Trump House, wouldn’t be so popular if the public wasn’t so easily swayed by propaganda and wooed by scandal, corruption, and an insatiable craving for unattainable power manifest in a character that merely reflects their own sinister desires. America lost its way a long time ago and has fallen into a collective sunken place that resembles Edgar Allan Poe’s Pit with insanity being the Pendulum.
America’s body politic is at a crossroads — the choice between two ideologies informed by propaganda set by one to discredit the other. A political class more concerned with publicity stunts and fundraising for re-election than wise governance of the nation makes the choice much more difficult. The times call for a revitalization of the American mindset. It’s time to evolve from carnal savagery and restore human dignity. French-American art collector and museum founder Dominiqe De Menil once said, “What should move us to action is human dignity: the inalienable dignity of the oppressed, but also the dignity of each of us. We lose dignity if we tolerate the intolerable.”
Transforming the consciousness of America means transforming the culture — taking a second look at how the collective tolerates, and even promotes, the intolerable and changing the narrative. This begins with those who have power and influence over the collective — from media moguls to entrepreneurs, to politicians themselves. The narrative must become one of wisdom and integrity, the emulation of human dignity in action, an aspiration to a higher calling with a purpose beyond vain popularity and the acquisition of wealth. The public must be inspired to aspire to higher ideals, which means those who illustrate the desirable must cater to more than carnal drives — they must get in touch with the soul.
The mission, meaningful. The purpose, genuine. The goal, tangible. The personality, authentic. The story, true.
Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (a document that greatly resembles the Unites States Constitution) states:
“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
Integrity in service. Respect among the people. Dignity within the self. If it be true that all humans have inherent dignity, then American culture should be one that nurtures that dignity, instills basic morality in the youth, conducts business with integrity, and exudes the spirit of brotherhood.
Americans at all levels of society must take a look at themselves as well as the culture that has been created and work together to create a better future. These ideals may seem improbable, but they are not impossible. Human nature will inevitably fail us and yield disappointment, but together, as individuals and a collective, America can rise to the occasion and become a dignified nation that surpasses all the generations past and blazes a trail for generations to come.
Author Bio: Felicia S. C. Gooden, M.S. is a Judeo-Christian mystic, founder, public affairs strategist, podcaster, and publisher helping the public and private sectors remain competitive in information operations and sustainability. Felicia has over 10 years of communications experience and holds a B.S. in Government: Politics and Policy as well as a M.S. in International Relations with honors from Liberty University. She is a member of the National Space Society, Space Force Association, and New York Women in Communications.
Felicia spends her free time painting, reading, and watching true crime documentaries as well as medical and legal dramas. Follow her on Twitter @iamcatmagnus
